Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-03-15
pEroRE THE WAR;

,....se Of Louisiana In Old Slavery Times.
~. oode and laws oil Louisiana are
sod on the Code Napoleon and
~ the Code Justinian of Rome,
"a more explicit and peculiar in
workings, than the laws of our 9TH
gates During the year 1854, a
..lthv slave-trader. named Bolts,
;rcinian by birth, who lived in the
.r5en suburbs OF New Orleans, and
- owned slave crawl on
emmon street, was suddenly
tr;cken with apoplexy and died
;tbout making will. The law re-
,,as that on the death of any per-
= of wealth, more or less, the Judge
s,be District Court shall then APP
~ a notary to take an inventory
the property, together with cura-
also an attorney to represent
paent heirs End two appraisers.
Cor nerforming the duties prescribed,
~ document is signed by all the
ast;es and submitted to the Judge
homoIogation. Judge Kennedy,
The case OF Bolts, appointed Edwin
notary, Tom Howard, attorney to
enresent absent heirs, a Mr.. Sewell
urator, and two young French Gre
lac appraisers. On receiving their
nnoin tments the gentlemen in
PISTON visited the office and
auk where Bolts had kept
s. deposits and titles to slave
sronertv. and then went in carriages
he residence OF the deceased, which
ms on the outskirts Of the city. TWAS
n elegant Southern, home empowered
! all the luxurious splendor ofshrub.
,erv. for which Louisiana is known,
e whole aspect denoting opulence
sndluxurv. As the party alighted they
rere greeted with the sound ofreligious
mnsic. one OF those magnificent
rsouiems for the dead, sung by two
emale voices in Italian, and SO pathet-
and soulful, that with one accord
these men stood bareheaded until it
ras ended, then advancing to the
Soor they knocked and were admitted
Nv a lady, tall and commanding of
6gure, courteous and graceful, dressed
deep mourning, who had such an
kir of refinement that they all were as
konished that Bolts should have been
IL fortunate as to have secured such
woman as his wife. The notary
briefly announced the business of the
barty and they were Immediately ush-
Fred into the spacious parlors. After
khe house, ground, household furniture
appraised the negro slaves were ad-
United individually to the presence of
The gentlemen and were examined,
valued and approved. according to
custom. The notary then announced
that their business was terminated,
on which the attorney for the absent
heirs. Mr.. Howard, who had been
talking aside with the curator. said
that he desised to question Mrs. Bolts,
which, of course was his legal right
and duty. He asked: "Are you Mrs.
Botts?" To which she replied with a
bow Continuing his questions, ne
said II don't want to distress
you, madam, but it is necessary
That you show me your marriage GER
t6cate" At which the lady burst in
to an agony of tears that effected even
those stern men of law. Ignoring the
Indignation readable on the faces oil
bis associates, he continued: "On my
honor, madam, I have no wish to
wound or pain you, but simply have
Ia duty to perform, and | must ask
you, Are you free woman of color?
and il so, show me your free papers
and ed this most terrible and I'M
pleasant interview" There was nc
reply to this except renewed sobs and
almost total abaSement of the body.
She was not the wife of Mr.. Bolts,
nor had she had her free papers
Ali the gentlemen withdrawing but
the notary, she told her history
ofa wealthy Virginia planter and had
been reared in luxury and sent to
France to complete her education
On her return to her fathers house
ignorant of her social status, she was
received as the honored daughter o
an ancestral house. Her father, dyin!
OF paralysis, was unable to perform
what he had promised her mother to
do-furnish the mother and their child
tree papers-and so left his unfortu
nate family Slaves in fact and in law
to the mercy OF his relatives, who
came forward apparently Indignant
at the manner in which money haC
been spent or "a negro family" ant
oosh mother and daughter were sole
IS slaves. Bolts secured the daugh
ter at the sale, and, becoming interest
ed and enamored with her, promise,
10 make her free if she would live will
nun as his wife. She assented, simpl,
because she could do nothing else, tn
result OF which l have shown you. TIL
SITUATION was so appalling and was 81
appreciated by the gentlemen appoint
by the court that, to the honor O
the Judge, this lady was prompt,
'reed and sent North, with sufficien
money to make her comfortable be
yond want.
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